Gangs of Sherwood: A Missed Opportunity for the Legendary Outlaws
On paper, Gangs of Sherwood sounded like a winning formula. A futuristic take on Robin Hood, four-player co-op, over-the-top combat, and RPG progression should have been a recipe for success. Unfortunately, despite some entertaining moments, the game never reaches its full potential.
I really wanted to enjoy Gangs of Sherwood. The premise alone had me excited. Reimagining the Robin Hood legend as a futuristic, steampunk-inspired co-op action game sounded incredibly unique. Sadly, after spending time with it, I walked away feeling more disappointed than impressed.
The biggest issue is the gameplay itself.
Combat starts off feeling flashy, but it quickly becomes repetitive and lacks the depth needed to keep each encounter exciting. Every mission begins to blur together, and despite each character having unique abilities, the gameplay never evolves enough to make experimenting with different heroes feel rewarding. Instead of constantly introducing new mechanics, the game relies on repeating the same formula over and over.
The story was another major disappointment.
Robin Hood is one of the most recognizable heroes in history, yet Gangs of Sherwood struggles to make its version of the tale engaging. The narrative feels rushed, the characters aren't given enough time to develop, and many of the emotional moments simply don't land. I found myself playing more out of a desire to finish the game than because I was invested in what happened next.
The boss fights also left me scratching my head.
Instead of feeling like memorable climactic encounters, many of the bosses seem disconnected from the story and world around them. Several fights feel random or unnecessarily overdesigned, making it difficult to understand why certain enemies were chosen as major villains in the first place. Rather than serving as exciting milestones, they often became frustrating roadblocks that lacked meaningful payoff.
Visually, the game has its moments. The futuristic interpretation of Sherwood Forest and medieval England is certainly creative, and some environments showcase impressive art direction. Unfortunately, the level design becomes repetitive, and many areas begin to look and feel too similar as the campaign progresses.
The cooperative gameplay is easily the game's strongest feature. Playing alongside friends creates some genuinely fun moments, and coordinating abilities during combat can be satisfying. Unfortunately, even co-op can't fully overcome the repetitive mission structure and underwhelming gameplay loop.
In the end, Gangs of Sherwood feels like a game filled with great ideas that never come together. The foundation is there, but the execution simply doesn't live up to the potential of its unique concept.
Pros
- Creative futuristic take on the Robin Hood legend.
- Fun to play with friends in co-op.
- Distinct playable characters with unique abilities.
- Attractive steampunk-inspired visual style.
- Some entertaining action moments throughout the campaign.
Cons
- Repetitive gameplay becomes stale quickly.
- Weak and forgettable storyline.
- Boss fights often feel confusing and disconnected from the narrative.
- Combat lacks enough depth to stay engaging.
- Repetitive mission and level design.
- Characters don't receive enough meaningful development.
- Doesn't fully capitalize on its excellent premise.
Final Verdict
Gangs of Sherwood had all the ingredients to become an exciting co-op action game. A fresh spin on the Robin Hood universe, stylish visuals, and multiplayer gameplay created plenty of reasons to be optimistic. Unfortunately, repetitive gameplay, a rough storyline, and boss fights that often make little sense prevent it from living up to its potential.
While there are flashes of fun, especially when playing with friends, they aren't enough to overcome the game's larger issues. In the end, Gangs of Sherwood feels less like an unforgettable adventure and more like a missed opportunity that could have been so much more.
Reviewer Scores
- Gameplay: 10/10
- Immersion: 7/10
- Fun: 6/10
- Story: 6/10
- Graphics: 7/10
- Sound: 7/10
- Replay: 2/10